Index record and signal



Sept. 15, 1931. LE ROI E. HUTCHINGS 1,823,564

INDEX RECO'RD AND SIGNAL Filed Oct. 14, 1926 r Inventor Patented Sept. 15, 1931 LE ROI EARLE HUTCHINGS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO REMINGTON RAND ING., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE INDEX RECORD AND SIGNAL Application filed October 14, 1926. Serial No, 141,612.

This invention relates to indexes and signals and has reference more particularly to index signals which are adapted to be atigached to the edges of record cards or memers.

An object of this invention is to provide an index signal adapted to be attached to the edge of the record card, said signal being further adapted to provide a maximum number of signals or indications with the simplest and cheapest possible construction of signal.

Another object of this invention is to pro.- vide a signal of the class described in which one face of the signal is of one color and the opposite face of a contrasting color, so that the two different colors on the same signal will give twice as many possible indications as if the signal is of the same color on both surfaces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a signal having a plurality of struckout tongues radiating from a common center, each of said tongues preferably having an aperture or other differentiating characteristics so that the number of indications possible with a single signal is considerably increased.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a signal which is especially adapted to be removably attached to the edge of reference or record cards such as cards articulated to form a series; also to improve index signals in other respects hereinafter specified and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one surface of my improved index signal.

Fig. 2 is a plan view similar to Fig. 1 of the opposite face of the signal,

Fig. 3 is an edge view of a signal,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a series of articulated cards to which my improved signals are applied,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view through a signal on line 5 5 of Fig. 4:,

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of a large number of types of record cardsto which my improved signal may be applied,

on both surfaces.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of a signal of metal or other materialcoated with enamel, paint,

one surfaceof the index material may be-of one color and the opposite-surface of the ma terial of a contrasting color. In Fig. 1,'for example, one surface has been shown white, while in Fig. 2, the opposite surface has been if desired. This feature makes it possible for shown red, but any other colors may be used the signal to give twice as manyindications of the condition of accounts, reference data,

etc., as if the material were of the same color However, 1f so desired,

the signal may be of the same color on both surfaces, and still bev highly eificient as to number of indications due to further mechanical improvements to be hereinafter described.

The signal material is preferably formed into the desired shape by means of dies or punches so as to provide a plurality of struckout tongues 11 which may be slippedoyer the edge of a record card as shown in Figs.

4 and 5 so that the record card is confined between the tongue 11 and the body 12 of the signal material. The improved index signal may have one of thesetongues, or there may be a plurality of tongues, and they may be further so constructed as to lie in radiating positions or other desired positions with re spcct to the center 13 of the signal. In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2,-four of these,

tongues have been shown as radiating from the common center 13, and these tongues thus lie at angles of ninety degrees one to the other. In order to further differentiate the tongues and provide a greater number of posv sible indications or-symbols for a given signal, different tongues may be provided with differently shaped apertures such as a circle 14 in tongue 15, a triangle 16 in tongue 17 and a square 18 in tongue 19. The tongue 11 has been shown plain without an aperture. Thus as an example of the utility of this novel signal, in using the same for accounts receivable, if the four tongues 11, 15, 17 and 19 inclicate different classes of credit rating, white surfaces exposed on a tongue would indicate first statement mailed to a customer, and a red surface exposed would indicate second statement mailed to the customer. In this way the condition of a particular account could be seen at a glance simply by the indication given by the desired tongue of the signal. V

The signal may be constructed of any suitable material, but in the preferred form it is constructed of two pieces of transparent celluloid, opaque cardboard or other suitable material of different colors sealed together as shown in Fig. 3. If desired one layer of the composite signal material may be of opaque material such as paper, while the opposite surface may be of transparent celluloid or the material may be of a single material such as metal, with different colored paints or enamels on the opposite faces as shown in Fig. 7. Regardless of the material or construction used it is desirable, but not essen tial, for one surface of the signal to be of one color and the opposite surface to be of. an-

other color.

While my improved signal may be applied to the edge of any type of record or reference card, it is especially adapted to be applied to the edge of a record card such as shown in Fig. 6, which is adapted to be articulated or connected to a similar card by means of tongues 20 which engage in suitable apertures 21 formed in the body of said card 22. These apertures 21 may take the form of diagonal slots, and are so spaced that one edge of each of said cards is in overlapping visible relation to equivalent edges of other cards in the series, and the signals are especiallyadapted to be applied to said exposed or visible edges of the record cards. The tongues 20 on the end card of the series may be inserted in suitable apertures or slots 23 in a panel 24, of cardboard, metal, or other suitable material so that the series of cards 22 is supported fromthe tongues on said end card of the series. It will be seen that the signals may be instantly attached to or detached from record cards, and transferred from one card to another card, or applied to a given card so that another tongue isexposed, giving a different indication or signal. In the preferred form shown in Figs. land 2, eight different indications or signals may be given by the index signal simply by attaching the index signal to the edge of the reference card 22 with the desired colored tongue exposed to view.

I would state in conclusion that while the illustrated examples constitute a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself precisely to the features herein illustrated and described, since manifestly the same can be considerably varied without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an index signal, a signal member composed of composite material consisting of two difi'erently colored substances attached together, said signal being provided with means for attaching said index signal to the edge of a record card said differently colored substances being adapted to indicate characteristics of record matter on said card.

2. In an index signal,.a signal member, a plurality of tongues struck from said signal member, eachof said tonguesbeing adapted todetachably engage the'edge of a record card, and each of said tongues having different indications or signals formed thereon,

8. Inan index signal, a signal member, and a plurality of tongues struck from said signal member and radiating in position from the center of said signal member, each of said tongues having a differentiating characteristic and being adapted to be detachably secured to a record card. l

4. In an index signal, a signal member having a plurality of tongues struck from the body of said member, said tongues being adapted to separately and detachably engage the edge of a record card, one of said tongues having a distinctively shaped aperture therein so astoprovide a differentiating signal for said tongue. v p V 5. In an index signal, a signal member, a plurality of tongues struck from the body of said signal member, some of said tongues having a distinctively shaped apertures formed therein, one surfacepf said signal member being of one color and the opposite surfaces being of another color.

6. In an index signal, a signal member, and a plurality of tongues formed on said signal member, one of said tongues having an aperture formed therein, for indicating characteristics of record matter on a card.

7. An index slgnal comprlslng a sheet having a plurality ofltongues directed inwardly from the marginal portions thereof, said tongues being spaced from each other and said sheet by an opening formed by the removal of a section of the sheet adjacent the marginal portions and between said tongues,

said tongues being formed for independent engagement on the marginal portion of a record card, each tongue providing a' different signal element.

8. An index signal comprising a sheet having a plurality of tongues directedinwardly from the marginal portions thereof in spaced relation, and signal means formed on each of said tongues each signal means being diflerent from the other.

9. An index signal comprising a laminated sheet member, each lamination having a different color, and said member having inwardly directed tongues on the marginal portions thereof relatively spaced and each having a different color on opposite sides thereof for independent signalling cooperation with a record card. 7

10. An index signal comprising a laminated sheet member having a plurality of tongues directed inwardly from the marginal portions thereof, said laminations being formed to provide independent signalling means on opposite sides of each tongue.

11. In combination, an index card, and a signal comprising a sheet member provided with a plurality of tongues directed inwardly from the marginal portions thereof, each of said tongues being independently engageable with a marginal portion of said index card for signalling cooperation therewith, said card concealing the other tongues in non-signalling relation.

LE ROI EARLE HUTCHINGS. 

